Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Test Series Preparation Match
Tour game, Perth venue (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: awaiting batting
The England captain delivered six wickets in his initial appearance following July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.
Skipper's Outstanding Comeback
The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.
The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Strategy
The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Highlights
Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.
Relaxed Environment
England's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "past players".
A relaxed opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.
Stokes Supreme Performance
The captain was superb in the contest against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.
The skipper has not managed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the tourists' hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Strengthens Claim
Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after the break.
Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.
Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
